Dispensing attachment for cans



, P. R. LEVI.

DISPENSING ATTACHMENT FOR CANS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. I8. 1920.

PatentedJune 1921 Wires are preteen PLUS RAND LEVI, 013 CHARLESTON, WESTVIRGINIA.

DISPENSING ATTACHMENT FOR CANS.

assaeea.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 7, 1921.

Application filed February 18, 1920. Serial No. 359,530.

tachments for Cans, of .which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to dispensing appliances for cans.

For the purpose of dispensing the contents of cans which containcondensed milk, evaporated milk, or cream, syrup or other products of aliquid nature, it is customary to punch two holes in the top of the canat diametrically opposite points through one of which openings thecontents may flow when the can is tilted and through the other of whichopenings air may enter to replace the discharged liquid. This method,however, is generally unsatisfactory for one does not always have athand an implement suitable for use in punching the holes in the can topand not all implements which are some times used for this purpose can beemployed without liability of injuring ones hands. Furthermore if thecontents are discharged slowly throu h an opening punched directly inthe top of such a can, it is likely that the contents will run down theside of the can and be spilled, and at the same time insanitaryconditions are created as the liquid is liable to coagulate or hardenabout the opening in the can and accumulate dust and dirt which willcontaminate other portions of the contents subsequently poured fromthecan. Also the opening which is to serve the purpose of a vent is liableto become clogged or, if it remains open, dirt is liable to enter thecan through this opening. It is therefore one of the primary objects ofthe present in- .vide an appliance for the purpose above described whichwill embody a spout the lower end portion of which constitutes means forpiercing the can top to provide the discharge opening and which openingis occupied by the said spout, the upper end portion of the spout beingso formed as to best adapt it for the dischargeof the contents of thecan without likelihood of spilling orwasting any portion of the contentsand creating insanitary conditlons in the vicinity of the dischargeopening in the can top.

A further object of the invention is to so construct the appliance thatit may be adapted to cans of various diameters and,

will be securely held to the can after application, without thenecessity of resorting to any mechanical adjustments of parts.

A further object of the invention is to so construct the appliance thatit will constitute a convenient means for handling the can both incarrying the can from place to place'and in pouring the contents fromthe can.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the device embodying the presentinvention applied to a can;

Fig. 2 is a View partly in side elevation and partly in sectionillustrating the device applied and the canv tilted to pouring position;

Fig. 3 isa perspective view of the device removed from the can.

The device embodying the present inven tion, except for the pouringspout thereof, is preferably formed from a single integral strip ofresllient metal andfcomp'rises a top member which is indicated ingeneral by the numeral 1 and which at its forward end is formed with agripping jaw 2 which depends therefrom substantially at rightangles andwhich is preferably transversely curved as indicated by the numeral 3 toconform generally to the cylindrical contour of a can body of theordinary size. This jaw 2 has its lower end portion deflected in anoutward direction as indicated by the numeral lso that this end of thejaw may readily ride over the upper edge of one side of the can infitting the appliance to the can. At it its opposite end, the top orbody member is curved downwardly as indicated by the numeral 5 toprovide a hand grip or handle 6, and the strip from which the device isformed is bent as at 7 at the lower end of the handle 6 to provide anupwardly extending clamping jaw 8 which, as in the case of the jaw 2, isalso curved transversely to fit the side of the can. As stated the stripfrom which the device is formed is of resilient metal and normally thejaws 2 and 8 will be sprung slightly inwardly toward each other and thedistance between the opposing faces of the jaws will be somewhat lessthan the diameter of the smallest size of' can in connection with whichthe appliance is designed to be used. However, due to the resiliencythat the same may be applied to cans of greater diameter as the jaws 2and 8 may be relatively sprung apart without, however, distorting thetop or body member of the appliance. It will also be evident that thebend 7 which connects the handle 6 and in the drawings by jaw 8 is arounded bend and that the outer surface thereof provides a rounded facelocated opposite the deflected lower end-portion 4: of the jaw 2 so thatthe jaw 8,may'

likewise readily ride over the upper edge of a can to which theappliance is to be fitted. It will also be apparent that the jaws 2 and8 will grip the diametrically opposite sides of the body of the can,which is indicated the reference letter C, frictionally with asufficient degree of firmness to insure of the appliance being securelyheld upon the can after its application thereto and yet to permit of itsremoval when required. The can top is indicated by the referencecharacter C and ordinarily the top will be providedwith a flange Ccircumscribing the upper end of the wall offthe' can body. The-upper endof the jaw 8 is not secured tothe top or body portion 1 of the appliancebut is always disconnected therefrom and may terminate slightly short ofthe said top or body portion and, when the device has been applied tothe can, may be brought into enga ement with the lower edge of theflange 2 in the manner shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings so as topositively lock the appliance in place. This locking engagement betweenthe parts is, however, not essential but the fact will be appreciatedthat the appliance is so constructed that ad- ,vantage may be taken ofthe presence of the flange C for the pur ose of additionally providingagainst disp acement of the appliance, where the can to which theappliance is fitted is provided with such a flange.

To provide for dispensing of the contents of the can, the applianceembodies a discharge or pouring spout which is indicated ingeneral bythe reference numeral 9 and this spout comprises a tubular body which isfitted and secured through the portion 1 of the appliance adjacent thejuncture of of the device it will be evidenthandle.

this portion with the upper end of the jaw 2,

the spout projecting both above and below the plane of the saidportion 1. Thus its portion which projects above the plane of theportion 1 and which is indicated by the numeral 10, constitutes itsdischarge end and may be cut at an angle to best provide for thedischarge of liquid therethrough. At its 4 the can when the appliance isfitted to the can and forced downwardly thereon andthus forms in thesaid top an opening through which the lower portion of the spout 9projects in the manner clearly shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings and whichopening is occupied by this spout so long as the appliance is in placeupon the can. It will be understood, of course, that if desired anysmall stopper or the like may be employed in connection with the spout 9to close the tween these incisions may be struck down to provide aiercing prong'12 for the purpose stated. T is prong is located betweenthe upper end of the jaw 8 and the spout 9 and is, of course, designedto pierce the top of the can at a point diametrically opposite the thecan top.

Having thus described the invention, what .is claimed as'new is:

- 1. Adevice of the class described comprissame when thecan is not inactual use and opening the ing aresilient strip-like body to extendacross'the top ofa can, one end portion of thebody being extendeddownwardly for engagement against one side o f the body of the can,theother end portion of the body being extended downwardly and inwardlyto provide a handle portion, and beyond .the

handle portion being bent to extend upwardly to provide a gripping jawportion to engage the opposite side of the can, a spout extendingthrough the body near the first mentioned end portion thereof and aboveand below the said body and provided with a piercing lower end, and apiercing element from the body near the said' formed up 2. A device ofthe class described compris- W ing 'a resilient strip-like body toextend across the to of a can, one end portion of the body ,belngextended downwardly for engagement against one side of the body of thecan, the other end portion of the body being extended downwardly aninwardly to provide a handle portion, andbeyond the handle portion beingbent toextend up- 100 point at which the spout is forced through wardlyto provide a gripping jaw portion said handle, the first mentioned endportion to engage the opposite side of the can, a of the body and theportion beyondthe hanspout extending through the body near the dle beingtransversely curved to conform. to 10 first mentioned end portionthereof and the curvature of the can'body.

above and below the said body and provided In testimony whereof I aifixmy signature. with a piercing lower end, and a piercing element formedup from the body near the PLUS RAND LEVI.

